A perfect day trip from London to discover an authentic English countryside village that has unique ties to one of the most famous writers in the world.
Chawton is a delightful village in Hampshire, in the South Downs National Park, with fairytale thatched cottages, a beautiful park, and a romantic Gothic church.
But Chawton is above all the place where Jane Austen lived happily for the last eight years of her life and wrote most of her novels, including the final version of Pride and Prejudice.
Jane Austen's House, located in the centre of the village, and Chawton House, the manor house inherited by Jane's brother, Edward, are universally considered the best places to immerse yourself in the world of this extraordinary writer.
2025 is the right year to visit Chawton because it's the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth, and there are many cultural events planned in the village by Jane Austen's House and Chawton House.
On my 1.5-hour tour in Italian, I'll take you on a discovery of the village that Jane Austen knew and loved and offer you a taste of what life is like in an English village based on my daily experience as a resident of Chawton.
The tour starts and ends in front of Jane Austen's House and leaves promptly at the indicated time, so be sure to arrive on time so you don't miss the start.
The walk is not challenging, but I recommend that you wear comfortable shoes and appropriate clothing for the unpredictable English weather. To check the weather conditions, you can visit www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2653293.
The tour takes place on pavements but, in a couple of short sections, also on grassy and dirt areas, so it may not be suitable for people in wheelchairs or on mobility scooters.
If the tour is not available on your preferred date, please contact me at the email address above. I will try to accommodate your needs, subject to my work commitments.
After my tour, you can visit Jane Austen's House or Chawton House. The links to book are below:
Jane Austen's House: janeaustens.house
Chawton House: chawtonhouse.org
I recommend booking your visit to Jane Austen's House in advance because admission is limited and, with the celebrations for the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth promoted around the world, many visitors are expected this year.
In Chawton, there is a pub, The Greyfriar, which is directly opposite Jane Austen's House, and two tea rooms: Cassandra's Cup, located next to the pub, and The Old Kitchen inside Chawton House. In both, you can enjoy light meals, excellent homemade cakes, or a cream tea or cappuccino.
Children under 8 years old can join my tour for free.
